Golf: Wilkinson on fire in opening round

Kiwi golfer Tim Wilkinson is the highest-earning player on the Web.com Tour this year without a tournament victory but he has put himself in a good position to change that this weekend.

The Manawatu professional carded an opening round six-under par 65 overnight to hold a share of the lead at the News Sentinel Open in Knoxville, Tennessee, alongside American Michael Putnam.

Putnam is the leading money-winner on this year's Web.com Tour, while Wilkinson is in ninth with US$197,836 (NZD$244,417) to his name from 14 starts but a tournament victory has continued to elude him.

It's a testament to Wilkinson's consistency that he can sit so high on the order of merit without a win. He has secured his spot inside the top 25 money-earners this year with two tournaments to go, which means he will have a PGA Tour card for next season.

Wilkinson's round in Tennessee overnight included seven birdies and one bogey at the US$550,000 (NZD$681,000) tournament.

Victory this weekend could see Wilkinson jump to as high as fifth on the order of merit.

Putnam and Wilkinson hold a one-stroke advantage over a trio of American golfers at five-under.

New Zealand's Steven Alker, who is 22nd on the Web.com Tour's order of merit, fired an even-par 71 to be in a share of 84th.

If Alker wants to make the cut he will need to go under par in his second round.

The 42-year-old is right on the cusp of securing a PGA Tour card for next year providing he can hold on to his place in the order of merit's top 25.